The second layer of the secret realm was a dense forest. The Spiritual Qi here was also bizarre, mixed with other energies that made it extremely difficult to refine and absorb. A moment of carelessness could lead to Qi Deviation.
The first layer had been mainly plains, scattered with ore piles, along with occasional herbs and ordinary Demon Beasts.
But the second layer was entirely different: a vast forest teeming with Demon Beasts and a greater abundance of spiritual herbs. What one might find here varied widely. Someone had once even discovered herbs suitable for refining Nascent Formation Pills.
In previous years, various factions would leave a batch of disciples to operate in the second layer. However, as time passed and more people entered, the chances of finding high-grade spiritual herbs dwindled. Generally, only smaller factions with insufficient strength would linger in the second layer.
Clearly, the second layer was not Qin Xiao's destination. Yun Man checked the direction with her map and continued flying toward the entrance of the third layer.
"Keep your Spiritual Qi replenished. Something feels wrong about this second layer. Stay at full strength."
Although Yun Man was already at the Nascent Soul stage and should have had no trouble on a layer normally inhabited by Foundation Establishment beasts, Qin Xiao still offered a reminder.
"I know, Master. We can't absorb the Spiritual Qi here directly, so I'm replenishing mine with pills and Spirit Stones."
Yun Man's perception of Spiritual Qi far surpassed Qin Xiao's. She had already sensed the abnormal Spiritual Qi and prepared accordingly.
Meanwhile, the three factions that had entered ahead of them were running into major trouble.
"This is only the second layer! Why are there such powerful Demon Beasts?"
"And there's more than one! What on earth is going on?"
"Stop standing around! Set up the Formation, quickly!"
Ling Wushuang swiftly produced a set of Formation Flags and deployed them around the perimeter, prompting everyone to channel their Spiritual Qi inward.
Immediately, a massive protective Formation materialized, blocking all the Demon Beasts outside.
The three factions, numbering over two hundred people in total, were already surrounded by the horde of Demon Beasts.
"What is happening? Nothing like this has ever occurred before. What is going on?"
Ling Wushuang's brow was furrowed deeply. Although he was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the three leading Demon Beasts possessed peak Nascent Soul strength. Fortunately, they were surrounding the group without attacking; if they launched a sudden assault, these two hundred-plus people would likely suffer catastrophic casualties.
"When the secret realm opened in past years, many disciples stayed behind in the second layer, and the strongest Demon Beasts encountered were only at the peak Foundation Establishment stage. Why, after a mere three years, has the second layer produced peak Nascent Soul Demon Beasts?"
Cang Xing, the team leader of the Pure Yang Sect, asked with a puzzled frown.
Cang Xing was one of the prodigies of the Pure Yang Sect's current generation, having reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Yet facing peak Nascent Soul Demon Beasts now—beasts they might not even defeat at equal levels, let alone from two minor realms below—was a daunting prospect.
"Something must have happened in the second layer, or perhaps some treasure has emerged that allows these Demon Beasts to advance rapidly. Though this is a calamity, it is also a rare opportunity. Do the two of you dare to risk it?"
Su Lin, the team leader of the Mysterious Yin Sect, did not seem particularly worried; instead, his face was alight with excitement.
Su Lin was likewise a prodigy of the Mysterious Yin Sect's generation, also sitting at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, talented disciples like them were undoubtedly equipped with numerous life-saving measures bestowed by their sects, meaning a desperate fight wouldn't necessarily end in defeat.
"Do not act rashly. I suspect these three Demon Beasts are not the strongest. There should be a Soul Formation beast lurking behind them. We might manage against Nascent Soul beasts, but what if a Soul Formation beast appears?"
Ling Wushuang remained relatively composed. The three Demon Beasts had yet to attack, which suggested that an even stronger beast was behind them. It had not given the order, so they dared not attack; otherwise, their nature would have driven them to charge long ago.
"What? A Soul Formation beast as well? Brother Ling, do not try to frighten me."
Cang Xing's complexion drained of color. If it were only the present horde, they still had a fighting chance. But with a Soul Formation beast as well, he feared no one except the three team leaders would escape.
"Surely not? Nascent Soul Demon Beasts appearing in the second layer is anomalous enough. If there are Soul Formation beasts as well, wouldn't this second layer rival the fifth layer?"
Su Lin found it difficult to believe, yet he knew Ling Wushuang's conjecture carried weight.
"Master, I sense a lot of people and Demon Beasts ahead. We should go around them."
Yun Man halted abruptly. With so many auras concentrated ahead, ignoring them was impossible.
"Go around them. We need to reach the fourth layer quickly, or the others will divide up all the good stuff."
Qin Xiao naturally agreed; he had no desire to embroil himself in such troublesome matters.
Yet as fate would have it, just as Qin Xiao and Yun Man bypassed the beast horde and the three factions, they had not flown far before a formidable aura locked onto them.
"Master, watch out! A Soul Formation Demon Beast!"
Yun Man was the first to detect it and urgently issued a warning.
"Fall back! Fly back the way we came!"
Qin Xiao had no time to wonder why a Soul Formation beast was on the second layer. They had to get away and stay alive.
Before they could retreat far, however, a peak Nascent Soul Demon Beast intercepted them from the front.
Yun Man had no choice but to alter their course once more.
Yet no matter which direction they took, the Demon Beasts drove them back until they ended up with the three factions.
"Hm? Tianyuan Sect disciples?"
Everyone looked on in astonishment at Qin Xiao's arrival. Hadn't the entrance to the second layer been manned? Could these two have entered before them?
"Greetings, Fellow Daoists. What a coincidence to meet here."
Realizing evasion was impossible, Qin Xiao stepped forward to offer a greeting.
Fearing that Ling Wushuang might recognize her, Yun Man had long since donned a veil.
"Hm? A mortal paired with a Nascent Soul cultivator? What sort of combination is this?"
Instead of answering, the assembled cultivators stared in bewilderment at the mismatched pair.
"How did the two of you get down here?"
Ling Wushuang was curious how they had descended. Given their random distribution upon entry, no one should have preceded them, especially since the Tianyuan Sect had been teleported in afterward.
"Disciple, show him the token."
Realizing the question came from a representative of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, Qin Xiao knew how to handle it.
Without a word, Yun Man retrieved the Supreme Membership Card.
"With this, I am permitted to descend, am I not?"
Unaware that Ling Wushuang was Ling Ruoxue's older brother, Qin Xiao looked rather pleased with himself.
"My Immortal Dao Merchant Association's Supreme Membership Card? Who on earth are you? Why was I never informed that the association added another supreme member?"
Ling Wushuang was momentarily taken aback. As the heir of the Ling Family, he kept a meticulous tally of everyone holding the association's Supreme Membership Cards, yet this Qin Xiao was completely unfamiliar to him.
"Who are you, anyway? Does everyone who acquires a Supreme Membership Card have to report to you? Enough, spare me the idle talk. The situation at hand is rather troublesome; we can discuss this card later."
Qin Xiao was utterly speechless. With their lives on the line, the man was still fussing over a card!
"Since you hold a Supreme Membership Card from our Immortal Dao Merchant Association, enter the Formation."
Noticing Qin Xiao's attitude, Ling Wushuang dropped the inquiry. Since the youth was a distinguished guest of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, protection was warranted, and he permitted Qin Xiao and Yun Man to enter the protective barrier.
Though they had entered the Formation, it made little practical difference—it merely separated an early death from a slightly delayed one.
"A moment ago, we encountered a Soul Formation Demon Beast along with several Nascent Soul beasts converging on this location. They appear to be sweeping through the entire second layer for cultivators, tightening their encirclement from the outside in."
Since they had joined the formation, Qin Xiao deemed it prudent to share intelligence and recounted what they had witnessed.
"What? There really is a Soul Formation Demon Beast?"
Cang Xing felt as though the heavens were crashing down upon him. It seemed they might actually perish here.
"These Demon Beasts possess such cunning? They know how to execute a coordinated sweep and encirclement?"
Su Lin lost his earlier exhilaration entirely. What on earth was happening in the second layer?
"This Formation can only withstand Nascent Soul attacks; it will never hold against a Soul Formation beast. We must devise a countermeasure immediately. Those beasts will likely converge upon us very soon."
Forcing himself to remain calm, Ling Wushuang took charge of the situation.
"Not good! The Demon Beasts are about to strike!"
Before a coherent strategy could be formed, a disciple cried out in alarm.